Bayview Branch Library, courtesy THA Architecture & Karin Payson A+D
Designed by THA Architecture in collaboration with Karin Payson A+D, this new library replaces an outdated facility, completed in 1969, with an enhanced neighborhood branch that celebrates the community’s unique history and culture. The 9,000-square-foot library is part of San Francisco’s voter-approved Branch Library Improvement Program, and is one of only eight new facilities from among the program’s 24 projects. When completed in 2012, the library is expected to achieve LEED Gold certification.
Bayview Branch Library, courtesy THA Architecture & Karin Payson A+D
Set on the busy Third Street thoroughfare, the Bayview Branch Library will invite visitors into a serene and secure environment, where the generous use of glass creates a luminous interior and establishes a porous connection between the library and its surroundings. The design, informed by feedback from neighborhood meetings and inspired by Bayview’s cultural history, also strives to reflect local priorities and invigorate a sense of civic pride.
Bayview Branch Library, courtesy THA Architecture & Karin Payson A+D
Street-level window walls will incorporate graphic panels etched with illustrations depicting the multi-faceted history of the Bayview/Hunters Point area, while within the library, interior walls will showcase artwork by local African American artist, Ron Saunders. In plan, the single story library organizes areas for different age groups-from children to seniors-around a landscaped courtyard that will infuse the library with natural light and air. After hours, the building will continue to serve as a community asset, providing access to a large meeting area through a separate entry.
Bayview Branch Library, courtesy THA Architecture & Karin Payson A+D
Other elements support environmentally efficient performance and respond to the site’s physical conditions. Inset portions of the roof are lined with clerestory windows and planted with native grasses and perennials, bringing daylight into the interior below while also filtering stormwater runoff. The exterior wall assembly integrates energy-saving stack ventilation and air filtration systems, and a photovoltaic array to supplement the building’s energy needs.
The project is managed by San Francisco’s Department of Public Works (DPW) and the building is being constructed by KCK Builders, Inc. a local Bayview construction firm.
Bayview Branch Library - Floor plan, drawing courtesy THA Architecture & Karin Payson A+D
+ About THA Architecture
Founded in 1983 by Thomas Hacker, THA Architecture is an architectural design studio recognized for its environmentally sensitive public buildings and urban spaces. Its prolific portfolio includes libraries, university buildings, museums, theaters and urban design, and is distinguishable for its integration of client values, its commitment to quality materials and construction, and its longstanding integration of sustainable design principles. THA enjoys a well-established reputation for delivering thoughtful, high quality projects on schedule and on budget, and has won numerous national, regional and local design awards and competitions. Their work is published internationally in five languages.